January 13, 2011

Ever since I found out I was pregnant with twins last year, the term 'purge' has been on the forefront of my mind. For the first few weeks, I almost had a panicky feeling that I had to purge my house of all the extra stuff that just seems to be everywhere. As I continued on with the pregnancy, taking it easy and making sure that they babies were safe and sound and staying put became more important than the urgent need I felt to purge my house of so much of the unnecessary extras. But it did stay on the forefront of my mind all of these months, and now it is back. The need, desire, and reality that our home needs to be purged of clutter. If you've been here, you might not now what I'm talking about, because most of the time our house is neat and looks pretty organized and clutter free. But it is there, believe me!

God has blessed us so much, and we have and are able to get anything that we need. But...confession time...I don't have it all together in the area of organizing and keeping my home truly clutter free. Oh yes, I'm definitely a type A personality and have many things that I'm highly organized in, but I'm finally admitting that this purge and reorganization has to happen now! For me, a lot of the stuff that is hiding everywhere is stuff that we need or will need. Usually I have 'inventory' of things that we will need which I think is important, as long as it is organized and you know what you have. (Thanks Dad for the example! ;-) On my wing during my freshman year in college, I won the "you need it, I got it" award, and I'm kind of sad that that still applies today! I have so many 'projects' and crafty type things that I love to do, and that leads to a lot of stuff. I'm definitely not a hoarder...just someone who forgets she already has something and buys it again. =) Or continues to buy yarn for my crocheting projects without using up the stuff I already have. Or can't see to the back of the cabinet under my bathroom sink.

Today I finally got around to cleaning out my pantry--something I've been telling Justin I was going to do every day for weeks--and it feels so much better! The final straw was when I bought a package of instant mashed potatoes for dinner last week, only to have my mom find another whole box of mashed potatoes in my pantry on Monday! And today during the clean out I found another whole box! That is pathetic! And a waste of money too!!

Why am I posting about my household purge? I guess for a couple of reasons. I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions, because I never end up following through on them and I feel stupid. But this is really important to me, and to the future of our family. With two boys, I know we are going to have to have a lot more stuff for them, and the things that have been sitting in my closets without being touched for years, or the suitcase of pictures that I packed up 2 houses ago and never unpacked don't need to be filling up space anymore! Now I'm very realistic, and with 2 babies, I know I only have short little periods of time throughout the day to work on this, in addition to all of the other needed chores around the house. So I'm just saying it publicly on here...I'm going to get my house under control! I want to set a good example for my boys. I have no excuse now not to do this--I'm always at home! But it will be baby steps...I know they'll be times that I'll wish it could be done already, but I'm going to do it!

I want to be organized and finally feel clutter free. I want to really have a handle on what we have. I want to donate the things that we don't use to someone who can really use them! I want to be a mom that really does have it all together--at least in the organization of our home! I'm really excited about this project, and from time to time, I might just share some of my before and after pictures as well!

Good for you! During times of high stress in the mommy job (they happen more often than I would like) decluttering has become my way to get back in control of things. I go around with a crazed look in my eyes, muttering to myself and stuffing junk in a bag for the thrift store. The best therapy I know of. Besides maybe a vacation to Hawaii but that's not happening so decluttering it is! Keep at it and I wish I could come help you! Love you!

Yay!! I love purging too! With all the moves we do it is SO necessary for us to get rid of things we don't use or need. Do you have "The Container Store" near you?! That's a great place to find organization tools that aren't expensive! Can't wait to hear how things go!!